Magnetic chopstick construction



United States Patent 3,304,111 MAGNETIC CHOPSTICK CONSTRUCTION Jae S. Kauh and Angela M. Kauh, both of 149 Shepard Ave., Kenmore, N.Y. 14217 Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 447,025 6 Claims. (Cl. 294-16) The present invention relates to a new and improved chopstick construction, and more particularly to such a construction incorporating detachable clip means having magnetic means normally biasing the food carrying ends of the chopsticks apart.

Chopsticks which are used in the conventional manner by a skillful manipulation of the fingers are well known. There have also been second types of chopsticks devised which remain fastened together by a clip arrangement and are biased apart so that a person using such chopsticks need only provide the force for moving the food carrying ends together, thereby lessening the skill which is required in the use of conventional chopsticks. The present invention relates to an improved construction in chopsticks of the second type.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a pair of chopsticks which are detachably fastened by a clip construction in an extremely simple and expedient manner to thereby facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the chopsticks, as required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved chopstick construction having a clip construction for fastening the chopsticks together wherein the clip construction guides the chopsticks toward and away from each other in substantially a single plane to thereby obviate the necessity for a person to exert the skill required to accomplish the foregoing function. A related object is to provide a detachable clip construction for chopsticks which also guides the sticks about a definite pivot point and therefore effects perfect alignment of the food-carrying ends in moving toward and away from each other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved chopstick construction wherein the chopsticks, which are detachably coupled by a clip construction, are biased toward a position wherein their food-carrying ends are urged to a spaced apart position by a magnet arrangement associated with the clip construction, the magnet arrangement providing a force tending to space the chopsticks apart, with the force decreasing as the chopsticks are moved toward each other, thereby enhancing the ease with which the chopsticks can be used for long periods of time without the tiring of the fingers. A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved chopstick construction incorporating the above mentioned magnetic arrangement associated with the-clip construction wherein the magnetic arrangement enhances the ease with which the chopsticks may be taken apart because there is no physical connection between the magnetically attracted parts and therefore no requirement for an addition-a1 manipulation to overcome such a connection. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be perceived hereafter.

The chopstick construction of the present invention comprises a first chopstick, a second chopstick, food carrying ends on said first and second chopsticks, clip means for fastening said first and second chopsticks together, and a pivotal connection on said clip means for permitting said food carrying ends of said first and second chopsticks to move toward and away from each other in perfect alignment while said clip means maintains said first and second chopsticks fastened to each other. -In addition the improved chopsticks of the present invention include magnetic means for biasing the food-carrying ends of the chopsticks to a spaced apart position when the chopsticks 3,304,111 Patented Feb. 14, 1967 are not subjected to a digital force tending to push them together. Furthermore, the above noted pivotal connection is separable to permit the chopsticks to be separated for washing or the like. Since the magnetic means do not have a positive connection therebetween, the mere separation of the pivotal connection is all that is required for separating the chopsticks. Furthermore, the improved clip construction includes means for guiding the chopsticks toward and away from each other in substantially a single plane, with perfect alignment of the food-carrying ends, thereby further obviating the manipulative skill required in their use. The present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the chopstick construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view through the clip construction shown in FIGURE 1 with the parts of the clip construction being in the position which they occupy when the food-carrying ends of the chopstick are spaced apart;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the relative positions of various portions of the clip construction when the food-carrying ends of the chopsticks are together;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of the food-carrying ends of the chopsticks taken substantially in the direction of arrows 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of an alternate chopstick construction made in accordance with the basic principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken through the .clip construction of FIGURE 6 and showing the position whichthe parts assume when the food-carrying ends of the chopsticks are spaced apart;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the relative orientation of the parts of the clip construction when the food-carrying ends of the chopsticks are together; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 1 a pair of chopsticks 10 is shown which includes a first chopstick 11 and a second chopstick 12 having food-carrying ends 13 and 14, respectively, which are flattened out (FIG. 5) to provide broadened food engaging areas 15 and 15'. Chopsticks 11 and 12 may be fabricated of wood, metal, or molded plastic.

An improved clip construction 16 is provided for maintaining food-carrying ends 13 and 14 in the spaced apart relationship shown in FIGURE 1 when digital pressure is not applied to the outside of chopsticks 11 and 12. In addition the clip construction 16 guides the chopsticks 11 and 12 toward and away from each other in perfect alignment while substantially, maintaining them in a single plane, as will become more apparent hereafter.

The clip construction 16 includes a first clip member 17 made of non-magnetizable material, such as aluminum, and having a plate-like portion 18 which is secured to a surface on chopstick 11 by any suitable means, such as screws, glue, or being molded therein. Extending from portion 18 is a housing which includes a top wall 19, an end wall 9 and two side walls 20 and 21 extending substantially perpendicularly from end wall 9. A magnet 22 of substantially solid rectangular configuration has surface 23 thereof secured to end wall 9 by adhesive 24. A pair of slots 25 and 26 are located in aligned relationship in side walls 20 and 21, respectively. Slots 25 and 26 receive ends 27 and 28,1'espectively, of

3 pin 29 extending through cars 30 and 31 (FIG. 4), which in turn extend substantially perpendicularly from one end portion 32 of magnetic member 32, which has its other end portion 33 suitably secured to chopstick 12 by screws or glue.

As can readily be visualized the ends 27 and 28 of pin 29 are slipped up into slots 25 and 26 until said ends of the pins abut the ends of the slot. When this is accomplished, magnetic member 32' will lie in contiguous relationship relative to magnet 22. When a digital pressure is not applied to the portions of the chopsticks lying between clip construction 16 and the food-carrying ends 13 and 14, the magnetic member 32' will be attracted to magnet 22 to thereby cause the food-carrying ends 13 and 14 to be spaced apart. However, when digital pressure is applied to the portions of the chopsticks 11 and 12 between the clip 16 and the food-carrying ends, the magnetic member 32 and magnet 22 will assume the positions shown in FIGURE 3. However, when the digital pressure is released the magnetic attraction between members 22 and 32' will cause them to reassume the position shown in FIGURE 2 and thus cause the food-carrying ends 13 and 14 of the chopsticks to spread apart.

It is to be especially noted that during the foregoing movement of chopsticks 11 and 12 toward and away from each other ears 30 and 31 of clip member 32' will be guided by the inside surfaces of side walls 20 and 21 of clip member 16 and thus insure that the chopsticks 11 and 12 will travel toward and away from each other while lying in substantially a single plane, thereby enhancing the ease with which the chopsticks may be used. In addition the ends of slots 25 and 26, against which pin 29 abuts, serve as pivot points for engaging said pin 29 which serves as a pivot, thereby providing a pivotal connection which maintains the ends 13 and 14 of the chopsticks in alignment as they move toward and away from each other.

It is to be especially noted that the magnetic attraction between members 22 and 32 not only causes the chopsticks 11 and 12 to assume the above described spaced apart position but also tends to cause the pin 29 to remain in its normal position against the ends of slots 25 and 26, since the intermediate magnetic portion 34 of clip member 32' lies near the end of magnet 22. It is also to be especially noted that once the magnetic attraction between member 32' and magnet 22 is overcome as the parts move from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, the magnetic force biasing the chopsticks 11 and 12 apart decreases, thereby enhancing the ease with which they can be moved together.

In the event it is desired to detach chopsticks 1 1 and 12 from each other for cleaning purposes or the like it is merely necessary to cause pin 29 to slide downwardly relative to slots 25 and 26 by merely pushing chopstick 11 upwardly and chopstick 12 downwardly until complete separation is effected. The chopsticks 11 and 12 may then be reassembled in a very simple and expedient manner by a manipulation which is reverse to that described above, that is, by inserting the ends 27 and 28 of pin 29 into slots '25 and 26, respectively, and exerting a manipulation in reverse to that required for separation.

In FIGURES 6-9 an alternate embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. All parts of this embodiment are identical to the embodiment disclosed in FIG- URES 1-5 except for a portion of the clip construction which will be described hereafter. The clip construction includes a first clip member 16 having opposite side walls 20' and 21' having dimples 35 and 36, respectively, therein (FIG. 9) which are adapted to be placed in complementary mating relationship with dimples 37 and 38, respectively, formed in ears 30' and 31. Bars 30 and 31 are of spring metal so that when the above described complementary mating relationship is obtained there will be a detent action tending to hold the clip members 16' and 32 together while permitting the magnetic member 32 to move relative to magnet 22 between the positions shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 during the manipulation of the chopsticks.

The only difference between the embodiment of FIG- URES l-S and the embodiment of FIGURES 6-9 is in the detachable pivotal connection. In FIGURES 1-5, the detachable connection comprises a pin and slot arrangement and in FIGURES 6-9 it comprises a detent arrange-ment. Aside from the foregoing differences between the two embodiments of the present invention, the remainder of the structure is identical.

It can thus be seen that both embodiments of the present invention are manifestly capable of each achieving the above enumerated objects and while these prefer-red embodiments have been disclosed, it will readily be appreciated that the present invention is not so limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A chopstick construction comprising a first chopstick, a second chopstick, food carrying ends on said first and second chopsticks, clip means for fastening said first and second chopsticks together, a pivotal connection on said clip means for permitting said food carrying ends of said first and second chopsticks to move toward and away from each other while said clip means maintains said first and sec-0nd chopsticks fastened to each other, and magnetic means mounted on said chopsticks for causing said food carrying ends of said first and second chopsticks to be urged to a spaced apart position in the absence of forces tending to bias said food carrying ends together.

2. A chopstick construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clip means includes means for permitting disassembly of said first and second chopsticks.

3. A chopstick construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clip means includes a first clip member and a second clip member, said first clip member having a first portion fastened to said first chopstick and a second portion spaced from said first portion and mounting a magnet, said second clip member having a first portion attached to said second chopstick and a second portion of magnetic material spaced from said first portion, and wherein said piovtal connection includes pivot point means on said first clip member and pivot means on said second clip member for mounting on said pivot point means, said pivot point means and said pivot means when in engagement causing said second portion of said second clip member to lie in contiguous relationship to said magnet on said first clip .mmber to thereby cause said second portion of said second clip member to be attracted to said magnet in the absence of forces tending to bias said food carrying ends of said chopsticks together.

4. A chopstick construction comprising a first chopstick, a second chopstick, food carrying ends on said first and second chopsticks, clip means for fastening said first and second chopsticks together, said clip means including afirst clip member and a second clip member, said first cl p member having a first portion for attachment to said first chopstick and a second portion comprising a housing having a pair of side walls and an end wall, a magnet mounted on said end wall of said housing, said second clip member including a first portion mounted on said second chopstick and a second portion made of magnetic material, a pair of aligned slots in said side walls of said housing, a pin carried by said second clip member, said pin being received in said aligned slots to thereby locate said magnetic member in contiguous relationship to said magnet whereby said magnet both aids in retaining said first and said second clip members in assembled relationship and tends to cause said food carrying ends of said first and second chopsticks to be spaced apart in the absense of forces tending to bias said food carrying ends together.

5. A chopstick construction comprising a first chopstick, a second chopstick, food carrying ends on said first and second chopsticks, clip means for fastening said first and second chopsticks together, said clip means including a first clip member and a second clip member, said first clip member having a first portion for attachment to said first chopstick and a second portion comprising a housing having a pair of side walls and an end wall, a magnet mounted on said end wall of said housing, said second clip member including a first portion mounted on said second chopstick and a second portion made of magnetic material, a pair of aligned dimples in said side walls, a pair of ears extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of said magnetic material and being spaced apart a distance which is slightly less than the distance which said side walls of said first clip member are spaced apart, second dimples in said spaced ears for mating engagement with said first dimples to thereby cause said first and second clip members to be fastened in detent engagement said magnetic member and said magnet lying in contiguous relationship when said detent engagement is realized so as to cause the food carrying ends of said chopsticks to assume a spaced apart position in the absence of forces tending to bias said food carrying ends together.

6. A chopstick construction comprising a first chopstick, a second chopstick, food carrying ends on said first and second chopsticks, clip means for fastening said first and second chopsticks together, a pivotal connection on said clip means for permitting said food carrying ends of said first and second chopsticks to move toward and away from each other while minimizing relative axial movement of said first and second chopsticks, guide means forming a part of said clip means for causing said first and second chopsticks to remain substantially in a single plane while moving toward and away from each other about said pivotal connection and magnetic means mounted on said chopsticks for causing said food carrying ends of said first and second chopsticks to be urged to a spaced apart position in the absence of digital forces tending to bias said food carrying ends together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1942 Hedquist 294106 X 6/1965 Dawes 294-16 

1. A CHOPSTICK CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FIRST CHOPSTICK, A SECOND CHOPSTICK, FOOD CARRYING ENDS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHOPSTICKS, CLIP MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHOPSTICKS TOGETHER, A PIVOTAL CONNECTION ON SAID CLIP MEANS FOR PERMITTING SAID FOOD CARRYING ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHOPSTICKS TO MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHILE SAID CLIP MEANS MAINTAINS SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHOPSTICKS FASTENED TO EACH OTHER, AND MAGNETIC MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CHOPSTICKS FOR CAUSING SAID FOOD CARRYING ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHOPSTICKS TO BE URGED TO A SPACED APART POSITION IN THE ABSENCE OF FORCES TENDING TO BIAS SAID FOOD CARRYING ENDS TOGETHER. 